It's official: The world record set by the charity Bald Angels in November 2015 when 462 people had their heads shaved in one sitting has finally been recognised. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
It's official: The world record set by the charity Bald Angels in November 2015 when 462 people had their heads shaved in one sitting has finally been recognised. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
It took 60 minutes for a small Northland community to set a world record for the number of heads shaved in a single sitting.
Getting that record recognised, however, took 27 months, or more than 1,180,000 minutes.
In November 2015 the Bald Angels Charitable Trust organised a mass head shaveat the Turner Centre in Kerikeri as a fundraiser for struggling Far North families.
More than 3000 people turned out and 472 had their heads shaved in the allotted 60 minutes by a crack team of 10 hairdressers.
People who sacrificed their hair included schoolchildren, the deputy mayor, police officers, an MP and a sporting legend. More than $65,000 was raised.
Bald Angels trustees Simon Bristow (left), Jude Blades, Therese Wickbom,Hana and Arena Munro, and Inky Vink celebrate as the certificate confirming their world record finally arrives.
However, that turned out to be the easy part. Getting the feat recognised took more than two years of battling Guinness World Records' bureaucracy.
The Bald Angels' perseverance was finally rewarded this week when a certificate arrived in the mail confirming their record.
Founder Therese Wickbom said the effort to win recognition was ''absolutely'' worth it. The big shave involved a colossal amount of work by many people and built the base of the Bald Angels, she said.
Founding member Inky Vink said participants had been told they were taking part in a world record attempt, and now the Bald Angels could finally show them it was for real.
Trustees Simon Bristow (left), Therese Wickbom and Inky Vink with the certificate confirming the Bald Angels' world record. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
Trust administrator Jude Blades said the processes used by Guinness World Records were not straightforward. Their IT systems did not work properly, she had to make all her inquiries via a call centre in London, and it wasn't clear what evidence they wanted or what format they wanted it in.
''It was very, very slow.''
Trustee Simon Bristow said the best thing about the big shave was the sense of camaraderie and community spirit it created.
''It drew everyone together,'' he said.
In April the Bald Angels will represent the Far North in the Trustpower National Community Awards in Queenstown.
Among other things they provide warm clothing for children, Christmas food parcels, ''angel bears'' for kids in trauma, a community garden, and a programme called KiwiMANA to help youth into employment.
■ If you want your own official certificate of participation in the Bald Angels' head shave go to the Guinness World Records store and enter 'New Zealand' and 'November 20, 2015' in the pop-up box (cost 20 pounds UK). Alternatively, you can contact the Bald Angels at www.baldangels.org.nz for a photocopy of the certificate (payment by koha).
